Admin 
A prisoner’s release date is when they are officially and legally released from incarceration. Anyone can ask for an inmate’s release date from prison authorities and the courts because it is public information.
However, how do you get information on an inmate’s release date from agencies that manage the United States prison population?
This article provides a guide on how to find information when an inmate is scheduled for release. Also, this write-up tackles how prisoners get released from prison and how parole acts as an early release method. This piece also touches on problems ex-inmates face once they reenter society.
Visit LookUpInmate.org to get access to more than 7,000 correctional facilities in the United States, giving you a vast database from which you can quickly search for the specific records you need.
How to Find an Inmate’s Release Date
You can start your search by visiting LookUpInmate.org. You’ll get links to find an inmate’s release date through this website. All you need to do is follow the instructions in the next section.
Beginning Your Search
Your search begins after obtaining the crucial information to find an inmate’s release date. Here are the pieces of information that you need:
- Inmate’s name
- Inmate’s identification number
- Degree of offense
- Admission date
- Name of the sentencing court
- Sentence status
You can get the information from the prison facility where the inmate is housed or the court where the defendant was convicted. These are public data you can access at any time.
Where to Begin Searching for an Inmate Release Date
After obtaining an inmate’s basic information, you can use LookUpInmate.org’s comprehensive inmate locator. You can fine-tune your search by selecting the state and the exact prison where the inmate is located.
You can also type in the inmate’s name and ID number for more accurate search results. It’s an easy-to-use search engine for locating inmates in the United States.
The information you’ll get from online inmate locators comes from the Department of Corrections of your state and the prison facility’s website.
How to Perform a Prison Inmate Search
Once you’re at LookUpInmate.org’s website, type in the search box the inmate’s name, identification number, and facility they’re currently located.
The search will generate links you can visit to get the information you need. Inmate locators make it easier for people to search for loved ones behind bars.
How to Perform a Jail Inmate Search
The jail search procedure on this website is similar to when searching for inmates in prisons in the United States. You just type the name of the jail, the inmate’s name, and the identification number.
Let’s say you can’t get the records online. In that case, you can request the necessary information from the records custodian of the prison facility or the court.
Locate a Federal Inmate
The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) reports that there are 122 federal prisons in the country. You can get information from these facilities through LookUpInmate.org. You only need to follow the steps explained above.
However, instead of state prisons or county jails, you will limit your search to federal prisons instead of state prisons or county jails.
Locate a Person Held for an Immigration Violation
LookUpInmate.org also includes in its database detention facilities that house people charged with immigration violations.
You can search immigration records by finding inmates in other correctional facilities. Just visit our site and use the handy search engine; remember to type the detention center’s name to make the search easier.
DOC Release Dates (State)
If you want a direct source for inmate release dates, your state’s Department of Corrections is the place to visit.
Each state has a DOC that manages the state prisons under their jurisdiction. You can get the information you need from the DOC website of your state, which is accessible to the general public.
County and City Jail Release Dates
There are approximately 3,116 jails in the United States, and finding specific information, like an inmate’s release date, can be daunting.
The more direct way to get the release dates for county and city jails is to contact the county clerk. Also, some jails have websites that you can visit online.
Federal Inmate Release Dates
Direct sources for federal inmate release dates could be found in the following agencies:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
- Department of Corrections
- Immigration and Naturalization Services
Like inmate locators, these agencies have websites you can visit online. You only need to search its database with basic inmate information.
Find Inmate Release Date Free
You can ask for the release date information for free because this is public information. You can also ask the inmate if they know their release date, especially if you’re constantly communicating with them.
Public records are free and can be accessed by anyone at any time.
Know That Inmates Can Be Moved
In some cases, the inmate information you get online isn’t updated, especially with regard to the location of a family member or friend behind bars. Prisoners can be moved from one prison to another, and sometimes, family members need to be made aware of the change of location.
Here are some reasons why prisoners are moved:
- Processing a prisoner’s release takes time. Paperwork must be processed after booking and before release.
- In some cases, completing the required documents may result in delays. Factors that can slow down the processing are errors in forms, missing documents, and typographical mistakes like an undotted “i” or an uncrossed “t.”
- Weekends are when work ends, so expect that the processing of documents halts during weekends. If you get arrested on a Friday night, you’ll have to wait until Monday for office work to resume.
- Increased incarceration volume can be another cause of delay. Limited staff, coupled with increased arrests, will create delays. Statistics show that, in 2021, one individual got arrested every three seconds. You can imagine the sheer volume of people being booked and processed in all jail facilities in the country.
- Some facilities are short-handed. Almost 360,000 individuals work in correctional facilities and jails, but this might be insufficient to cater to the increasing number of daily arrests. Any slowdown in the processing of one inmate will create a domino effect resulting in longer delays down the line.
- Prisoner relocation can also be a factor. Depending on the circumstances, a prisoner may be moved to other correctional facilities due to their security level status change or medical reasons.
What Is the Process for Someone Being Released From Jail?
The release process may differ depending on whether the prisoner is incarcerated in a county jail, state prison, or federal penitentiary.
Because jails are smaller facilities than prisons, the processing is much shorter. Here is an example of a jail release process from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
- The jail receives authorization to release an inmate.
- A 48-window to release the inmate starts from midnight of the day the jail gets the court order.
- Before the inmate’s release, the jail officers will check their medical needs, the prisoner’s property, and the cashier’s balances.
- A discharge coordinator then briefly assesses the inmate’s needs and offers a service for a smooth and safe reentry to society.
Other counties may have different release processes not included in this example. It’s best to constantly communicate with the jail officers to understand inmate release policies where your loved one is housed.
What Happens to Released Prisoners Once They Get Out?
The plight of a prisoner after release is a unique tale. Each story reveals insight into their lives now that they’re free. Some become success stories, while others get stuck in a crime loop.
One great tip is to have a solid support system ready to catch you when you fall.
The support system that a prisoner can run to can be their immediate family, accepting friends, and agencies, both government-funded and advocacies willing to lend a helping hand.
There are various programs that ex-inmates can go to for guidance, support, and friendship. Examples of these agencies are:
- State Employment Commission
- Housing Authority (for public housing)
- State and county health departments
- The Department of Motor Vehicles
- Food banks
- Temporary shelters
- Public health clinics
In addition, hundreds of non-profit organizations and advocacies work hand-in-hand to help people seeking a better life after incarceration.
What Are the Negative Impacts of Being Released?
A problem inmates face is what happens after they get out of prison. Some inmates have spent years behind bars that they’re so accustomed to life inside. For this reason, they fear what lies beyond the barbed fence.
Unfortunately, some prisoners don’t cope well after release. They fail to see the opportunities of a new life and instead focus on the barriers of shame that keep them shackled.
Here are some reasons why prisoners feel that they can’t cope well with society:
- Barriers to voting
- Barriers to landing a stable job
- Barriers to housing
- Barriers to student loans and educational opportunities
- Barriers to health services and other public benefits
Visit a Federal Inmate
Visitations depend on the policies set by the federal institution. You can check the visitation hours through the Bureau of Prison websites or LookUpInmate.org. You can get direct links to prisons and penitentiaries and information about visiting policies and procedures.
Send Money to an Inmate
You can send money to an inmate through money transfer processes allowed by the prison facility. However, you can’t just drop off cash to an inmate during visitation.
Carrying physical money is not allowed inside prisons. A prisoner’s money is stored in an account, which the inmate can access when buying stuff from the prison’s commissary and paying for phone calls.
Send Money to an Inmate at a State or Local Prison
Family members can fund prisoner accounts. Money can be sent through money order or third-party money transfer services allowed by the prison authorities.
Different states have varying policies on processing money transfers to a prisoner’s account. For example, in Pennsylvania, JPay, one of the third-party money transfer providers in the United States, handles prison accounts. You can send money via phone, fund transfers, or credit card.
Send Money to an Inmate at a Federal Prison
The process is similar to state prisons. The prisoner has a bank-type account, which they can access when purchasing items from the commissary.
These accounts can be directly funded by their loved ones outside of prison. All they need to do is deposit money into the inmate’s account, which you can do over the phone if you’re unavailable to head to your bank.
Prison Records
A prison record is a legal document that contains the report of an inmate’s incarceration and conduct while inside a penal or correctional institution. Prison records are public documents that anyone can access, especially law enforcement agencies, employers, and housing companies.
Federal Prison Records 1982 – Present
Suppose you need to do more background checks on people or research previous inmate cases. You can acquire prison records from the 1980s to the present through these methods:
- Use an inmate locator like the one provided by the BOP or LookUpInmate.org.
- Request details of an inmate by completing DOJ-361 along with the Freedom of Information Act request.
The BOP uses the DOJ-361 certification of identity form to confirm the identity of the individual submitting the request by mail and protect prison records from being wrongfully disclosed.
Federal Prison Records 1870 – 1981
You can head to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for records that date back a century ago. To make your search easier, having the following inmate information is best.
- Inmate’s name
- Date of birth of the inmate
- Inmate’s race
- Approximate dates the inmate was in prison
Complaints About Federal, State, and Local Prisons
Despite the continued improvements made by the BOP and DOC to prison facilities in the country, there are still lapses in the system.
Still, the BOP and DOC have opened lines of communication where people can send their grievances for resolution.
File a Complaint About a Local, County, or State Prison
Suppose you have complaints about federal, state, and local prison management. In that case, you can voice your comments through the following methods.
- File a formal complaint addressed directly to the specific correctional facility.
- If issues are not promptly resolved, you can raise them to the state’s Department of Corrections.
- If the issues remain unresolved, you can file a complaint directly to the state governor.
File a Complaint About a Federal Prison
If you have any complaints against federal prison management, you can voice out your comment through the following methods:
- File a formal complaint directly to the specific correctional institution.
- You can raise the complaint with the BOP regional office if unresolved.
- If the complaint remains unresolved, you can escalate it to the BOP Headquarters or the Department of Justice – Office of the Inspector General to conduct investigations.
Facilities Operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
The main facilities under a state’s Department of Corrections are state prisons. Other state-run facilities, like the one in Pennsylvania, include a motivational boot camp and community corrections and contract facilities.
Other states may operate facilities specific to the prison population demographic they have.
The Difference Between State Prisons and County Jails
The difference between state prisons and jails boils down to two main points:
- State prisons are intended for prisoners with lengthy sentences, typically more than one year. Prisons are also intended to house criminals with felony charges.
- Jails are intended for inmates with one year or less sentence lengths. Also, jails are to detain people awaiting a court date, incarcerate individuals with misdemeanor charges, and act as a holding area for defendants awaiting their sentence.
Staying Safe as a Victim of a Crime
From the victim’s point of view, a prisoner’s impending release may cause anxiety and fear. The threat of retaliation toward a victim is clearly on the table, and no one can guarantee a prisoner has wholly transformed while inside a correctional facility.
The victim can communicate their concerns with law enforcement, subscribe to the VINElink and get access to release date schedules for specific prisoners. Most important of all, a victim must live normally.
A victim’s fear is a real thing that must be validated. However, one’s fear should not degrade their way of life. Fear is the body’s way of steering you away from danger to remain alive, not an emotion that cages you in anxiety and despair.
Need More Help Regarding an Inmate’s Release?
If you need more help concerning your loved one’s release from prison, you can always seek the services of lawyers familiar with laws particular to your state. You can quickly search for the various law firms in your area.
If you need an accessible inmate locator and records finder, visit LookUpInmate.org. Our website provides access to over 7,000 U.S. correctional facilities, including federal and state prisons, local and county jails, military prisons, and immigrant detention facilities.
References
1. Federal Bureau of Prisons
https://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/federal_prisons.jsp
2. Parole
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/parole
3. What Is Parole? How Does Parole Work?
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-does-parole-work.html
4. Eligibility for Parole
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/eligibility-parole.html
5. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Search Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm#(1)
6. How to Send Money
https://www.cor.pa.gov/family-and-friends/Pages/How%20to%20Send%20an%20Inmate%20Money.aspx
7. How to visit or send money to a prisoner
https://www.usa.gov/visit-prisoner-send-money
8. How to look up prisoners and prison records
https://www.usa.gov/prisoner-records
9. File a complaint about a state or federal prison
https://www.usa.gov/complaint-about-prison
- The inmate has unique needs that can be met if they’re transferred to a prison with the required facility. For example, an inmate with a mental issue has medical needs that can be met by another prison facility better equipped to handle such a case.
- The inmate is held in a holding facility, which means that after a specific date, they can be moved.
- Sometimes, inmates get transferred depending on their security level and whether they need to be transferred to maximum or minimum security prisons.
Understand That Release Dates Can Change
Another factor that can also change is the exact release date of an inmate. There are instances where the inmate commits a crime while incarcerated, which can result in a delayed release from prison.
On the other hand, an inmate’s good behavior may be a factor in lessening time spent in prison.
Know What Being on Parole Means
A parole is a conditional release for inmates before they complete their sentence. Paroles are privileges the U.S. criminal justice system offers to prisoners who have become eligible after serving time in prison.
To get released via parole, an inmate must fit the requirements imposed by a group of deliberators called a parole board.
Breaking Conditions on Parole Can Lead to Prison Time
Parole violations can lead to added prison time, especially if the judge or the parole board deems it necessary.
A person on parole is a recipient of privilege given by the United States. Alongside this privilege is the obligation to fulfill all the requirements and conditions stated.
Say a parolee fails to abide by these conditions. It’ll be deemed a violation and may result in parole revocation and re-incarceration. So, even if there’s a release date, certain factors may delay a person’s reintegration into society.
Examples of infractions that may result in parole revocations include:
- Being charged with taking part in or committing a new crime
- Being tested positive for drug use or alcohol abuse
- Not attending the required rehabilitation programs, such as counseling sessions or 12-step meetings
How to Be Notified of an Inmate’s Release
Automated notification services like Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) can remind you of an inmate’s release date. Instead of constantly checking websites and calling prison clerks about the expected release date of a loved one behind bars, you can opt to use VINElink service instead.
VINElink is a free notification service by the U.S. government for witnesses or crime victims and family members needing notification of a change in an inmate’s custody status.
Another way to get release date information is from the DOC Victim Services, which will notify you of custody change status via phone or mail.
Can a Prisoner Be Released Early?
One way for a prisoner to be released from incarceration before the completion of the entire sentence is through parole. Parole is a privilege that’s part of the criminal justice system’s attempt to help prisoners transition back into society.
Parole eligibility depends mainly on the time served by a convict behind bars. A parole board determines the status of each prisoner who is now eligible and decides whether they can be given parole or not.
Do Prisoners Know Their Release Date?
Prisoners will know their release date once the facility receives the release order. Calculating a prisoner’s release date depends on many factors.
In California, to determine the release date of a prisoner, one must consider the following factors:
- Actual time spent in prison or jail
- The inmate’s behavior while in prison
- Disciplinary actions received while incarcerated
- The total length of the prison term
Why Does It Take So Long to Be Released From Jail?
Sometimes, getting released from jail or prison may take longer than anticipated. Some may think that lapses in government procedures are happening. However, some factors can affect the release date of prisoners like the following:
- Processing a prisoner’s release takes time. Paperwork must be processed after booking and before release.
- In some cases, completing the required documents may result in delays. Factors that can slow down the processing are errors in forms, missing documents, and typographical mistakes like an undotted “i” or an uncrossed “t.”
- Weekends are when work ends, so expect that the processing of documents halts during weekends. If you get arrested on a Friday night, you’ll have to wait until Monday for office work to resume.
- Increased incarceration volume can be another cause of delay. Limited staff, coupled with increased arrests, will create delays. Statistics show that, in 2021, one individual got arrested every three seconds. You can imagine the sheer volume of people being booked and processed in all jail facilities in the country.
- Some facilities are short-handed. Almost 360,000 individuals work in correctional facilities and jails, but this might be insufficient to cater to the increasing number of daily arrests. Any slowdown in the processing of one inmate will create a domino effect resulting in longer delays down the line.
- Prisoner relocation can also be a factor. Depending on the circumstances, a prisoner may be moved to other correctional facilities due to their security level status change or medical reasons.
What Is the Process for Someone Being Released From Jail?
The release process may differ depending on whether the prisoner is incarcerated in a county jail, state prison, or federal penitentiary.
Because jails are smaller facilities than prisons, the processing is much shorter. Here is an example of a jail release process from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
- The jail receives authorization to release an inmate.
- A 48-window to release the inmate starts from midnight of the day the jail gets the court order.
- Before the inmate’s release, the jail officers will check their medical needs, the prisoner’s property, and the cashier’s balances.
- A discharge coordinator then briefly assesses the inmate’s needs and offers a service for a smooth and safe reentry to society.
Other counties may have different release processes not included in this example. It’s best to constantly communicate with the jail officers to understand inmate release policies where your loved one is housed.
What Happens to Released Prisoners Once They Get Out?
The plight of a prisoner after release is a unique tale. Each story reveals insight into their lives now that they’re free. Some become success stories, while others get stuck in a crime loop.
One great tip is to have a solid support system ready to catch you when you fall.
The support system that a prisoner can run to can be their immediate family, accepting friends, and agencies, both government-funded and advocacies willing to lend a helping hand.
There are various programs that ex-inmates can go to for guidance, support, and friendship. Examples of these agencies are:
- State Employment Commission
- Housing Authority (for public housing)
- State and county health departments
- The Department of Motor Vehicles
- Food banks
- Temporary shelters
- Public health clinics
In addition, hundreds of non-profit organizations and advocacies work hand-in-hand to help people seeking a better life after incarceration.
What Are the Negative Impacts of Being Released?
A problem inmates face is what happens after they get out of prison. Some inmates have spent years behind bars that they’re so accustomed to life inside. For this reason, they fear what lies beyond the barbed fence.
Unfortunately, some prisoners don’t cope well after release. They fail to see the opportunities of a new life and instead focus on the barriers of shame that keep them shackled.
Here are some reasons why prisoners feel that they can’t cope well with society:
- Barriers to voting
- Barriers to landing a stable job
- Barriers to housing
- Barriers to student loans and educational opportunities
- Barriers to health services and other public benefits
Visit a Federal Inmate
Visitations depend on the policies set by the federal institution. You can check the visitation hours through the Bureau of Prison websites or LookUpInmate.org. You can get direct links to prisons and penitentiaries and information about visiting policies and procedures.
Send Money to an Inmate
You can send money to an inmate through money transfer processes allowed by the prison facility. However, you can’t just drop off cash to an inmate during visitation.
Carrying physical money is not allowed inside prisons. A prisoner’s money is stored in an account, which the inmate can access when buying stuff from the prison’s commissary and paying for phone calls.
Send Money to an Inmate at a State or Local Prison
Family members can fund prisoner accounts. Money can be sent through money order or third-party money transfer services allowed by the prison authorities.
Different states have varying policies on processing money transfers to a prisoner’s account. For example, in Pennsylvania, JPay, one of the third-party money transfer providers in the United States, handles prison accounts. You can send money via phone, fund transfers, or credit card.
Send Money to an Inmate at a Federal Prison
The process is similar to state prisons. The prisoner has a bank-type account, which they can access when purchasing items from the commissary.
These accounts can be directly funded by their loved ones outside of prison. All they need to do is deposit money into the inmate’s account, which you can do over the phone if you’re unavailable to head to your bank.
Prison Records
A prison record is a legal document that contains the report of an inmate’s incarceration and conduct while inside a penal or correctional institution. Prison records are public documents that anyone can access, especially law enforcement agencies, employers, and housing companies.
Federal Prison Records 1982 – Present
Suppose you need to do more background checks on people or research previous inmate cases. You can acquire prison records from the 1980s to the present through these methods:
- Use an inmate locator like the one provided by the BOP or LookUpInmate.org.
- Request details of an inmate by completing DOJ-361 along with the Freedom of Information Act request.
The BOP uses the DOJ-361 certification of identity form to confirm the identity of the individual submitting the request by mail and protect prison records from being wrongfully disclosed.
Federal Prison Records 1870 – 1981
You can head to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for records that date back a century ago. To make your search easier, having the following inmate information is best.
- Inmate’s name
- Date of birth of the inmate
- Inmate’s race
- Approximate dates the inmate was in prison
Complaints About Federal, State, and Local Prisons
Despite the continued improvements made by the BOP and DOC to prison facilities in the country, there are still lapses in the system.
Still, the BOP and DOC have opened lines of communication where people can send their grievances for resolution.
File a Complaint About a Local, County, or State Prison
Suppose you have complaints about federal, state, and local prison management. In that case, you can voice your comments through the following methods.
- File a formal complaint addressed directly to the specific correctional facility.
- If issues are not promptly resolved, you can raise them to the state’s Department of Corrections.
- If the issues remain unresolved, you can file a complaint directly to the state governor.
File a Complaint About a Federal Prison
If you have any complaints against federal prison management, you can voice out your comment through the following methods:
- File a formal complaint directly to the specific correctional institution.
- You can raise the complaint with the BOP regional office if unresolved.
- If the complaint remains unresolved, you can escalate it to the BOP Headquarters or the Department of Justice – Office of the Inspector General to conduct investigations.
Facilities Operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
The main facilities under a state’s Department of Corrections are state prisons. Other state-run facilities, like the one in Pennsylvania, include a motivational boot camp and community corrections and contract facilities.
Other states may operate facilities specific to the prison population demographic they have.
The Difference Between State Prisons and County Jails
The difference between state prisons and jails boils down to two main points:
- State prisons are intended for prisoners with lengthy sentences, typically more than one year. Prisons are also intended to house criminals with felony charges.
- Jails are intended for inmates with one year or less sentence lengths. Also, jails are to detain people awaiting a court date, incarcerate individuals with misdemeanor charges, and act as a holding area for defendants awaiting their sentence.
Staying Safe as a Victim of a Crime
From the victim’s point of view, a prisoner’s impending release may cause anxiety and fear. The threat of retaliation toward a victim is clearly on the table, and no one can guarantee a prisoner has wholly transformed while inside a correctional facility.
The victim can communicate their concerns with law enforcement, subscribe to the VINElink and get access to release date schedules for specific prisoners. Most important of all, a victim must live normally.
A victim’s fear is a real thing that must be validated. However, one’s fear should not degrade their way of life. Fear is the body’s way of steering you away from danger to remain alive, not an emotion that cages you in anxiety and despair.
Need More Help Regarding an Inmate’s Release?
If you need more help concerning your loved one’s release from prison, you can always seek the services of lawyers familiar with laws particular to your state. You can quickly search for the various law firms in your area.
If you need an accessible inmate locator and records finder, visit LookUpInmate.org. Our website provides access to over 7,000 U.S. correctional facilities, including federal and state prisons, local and county jails, military prisons, and immigrant detention facilities.
References
1. Federal Bureau of Prisons
https://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/federal_prisons.jsp
2. Parole
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/parole
3. What Is Parole? How Does Parole Work?
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-does-parole-work.html
4. Eligibility for Parole
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/eligibility-parole.html
5. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Search Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm#(1)
6. How to Send Money
https://www.cor.pa.gov/family-and-friends/Pages/How%20to%20Send%20an%20Inmate%20Money.aspx
7. How to visit or send money to a prisoner
https://www.usa.gov/visit-prisoner-send-money
8. How to look up prisoners and prison records
https://www.usa.gov/prisoner-records
9. File a complaint about a state or federal prison
https://www.usa.gov/complaint-about-prison